By SCOTT GUTIERREZ, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 10:00 pm, Monday, September 28, 2009

King County Executive Kurt Triplett said Monday that his 2010 budget plan would stabilize Metro Transit, which is facing a $213 million budget gap over the next two years.

His plan was unchanged Monday from a 9-point plan announced in August, which would reduce bus service by 9-percent across-the-board and increase fares by 25 cents in 2011 as part a 9-point plan to counter the agency's drop in sales tax revenue caused by the recession.

Under Triplett's plan, Metro would temporarily lose about 310,000 hours of bus service annually over the next two years. He would treat the reductions as suspensions and not as permanent cuts, which means service restoration wouldn't be subject to the "40/40/20 rule" -- a requirement that says Seattle gets only 20 percent of new service, while the county's east and south sub-areas would each get 40 percent.

Metro's deficit is currently projected at $500 million over four years. Triplett's plan sets the course to preserve bus service in 2012 and 2013.

Triplett's plan does not tweak fares beyond a 25 cent raise in 2011, which is on top of a 25-cent raise already planned in 2010. The fare increase would generate $12 million over the next two years.

A recent performance audit of Metro Transit found room to raise an additional $54 million in annual revenue by raising fares and reducing discounts for seniors, youth, and off-peak riders, which the audit said were "unusually generous." It also identified $41 million in potential savings through running more efficient bus routes.

The agency is working to implement most of the recommendations on efficiencies, but savings could take up to two years to see.

"If there is going to be a significant shift in fare policy...everyone needs to sit and take a look at it holistically," Desmond said.

Also in Triplett's plan:

Defer planned expansion in service planned under the Transit Now initiative -- which accounts for some of the budget gap -- except for RapidRide routes and the Service Partnership agreements already in place. Savings: $36 million over four years.

A tax swap of about $29 million over the next two years from the King County Ferry District, with most funding the planned RapidRide routes. It would amount to $58 million over four years.Raise fares by 25 cents in 2011, beyond a 25-cent raise planned in 2010. Councilmember Jane Hague, vice-chair of the Budget Leadership team, said there is accord on the 2011 fare increase, with no changes for youth, seniors, or off-peak riders. A group of councilmembers has proposed additional fare increases in 2012 and 2013.

Purchasing 200 fewer buses and reduce Metro's administrative, maintenance and marketing costs by 10 percent. Buses would be washed less, stops would see less landscaping, and there would be fewer transit police. Savings: $110 million over four years.

Cutting Metro's $50 million, 30-day reserve fund by about half, and spending that money on service, and tapping into $105 million of extra money in the county's fleet replacement fund, which was discovered during an audit.

County Councilmember Larry Gossett, budget committee chairman, said he particularly concerned that Triplett's across-the-board reductions would disproportionately affect transit-dependent residents in South Seattle and Skyway.

A plan floated by some county councilmembers would limit reductions to 4 to 5 percent, but would more quickly make cuts, which would be permanent. The council plan would reduce Metro administrative costs by 25 percent and non-service positions by 15 percent. It also would charge Seattle more money to continue the ride-free area downtown and revise the schedule for the Transit Now expansion plan.